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Minor League Hot List: Franco, Quinn, Tocci, Eflin Start Blazing

milb logoAfter roughly a week and a half of the minor league schedule has past, so here's a quick run down of the top performers from the Phillies' developmental ranks thus far in the young baseball season.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley...

3B/1B Maikel Franco- The righty hitting slugger sports a .386 average with a homer and eight RBI through 10 games. After going 0-for-3 on opening day, the 22-year-old has put together a nine-game hitting streak with at least one extra-base hit in eight of those games.

RHP Phillippe Aumont- In three appearances, the 26-year-old has allowed one earned run in eight innings (1.13 ERA) while striking out 10 and walking four. Aumont has a career 6.13 ERA in 45 big league outings.

Double-A Reading...

RHP Zach Eflin- In two starts, the 21-year-old right has a 2-0 record while throwing 14 scoreless frames, having struck out seven and walked two. Eflin was acquired over the off-season from the Dodgers in the Jimmy Rollins trade.

LHP Jesse Biddle- The 23-year-old has allowed two earned runs in 11 innings (1.64 ERA) while striking out 12 and walking three to notch a 1-0 record in two starts. Biddle was drafted by the Phillies in the opening round in 2010.


OF Roman Quinn- The 21-year-old sports a .378/.439/.622 slash line in nine games with a league leading seven stolen bases. Quinn was the Phils' 2nd round draft selection in 2011. He missed a portion of last season after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Class A Advanced Clearwater...

OF Andrew Pullin- Through 10 games, the 21-year-old has posted a .361 average with a home run and six RBI. Pullin, the Phillies' 5th round draft pick in 2012, was converted to outfield from second base this preseason.

Mark Leiter Jr.- In three relief appearances, the right-hander has allowed two earned runs in 9 2/3 innings (1.86 ERA) while striking out nine and walking three to post a 1-0 record. The New Jersey native was the Phillies' 22nd round draft pick in 2013 out of NJIT.

Class A Lakewood...

OF Carlos Tocci- The 19-year-old righty batter sports a .400 average with five doubles, a home run, nine RBI and four stolen bases in 10 games this season. This is Tocci's third season with the BlueClaws and he is already drawing some buzz about a possible promotion to the Threshers.

RHP Ricardo Pinto- The 21-year-old Venezuelan has no decisions, but has a 1.38 ERA to go along with his 12 strike outs and three walks issued in 13 innings pitched. Pinto could be a bust-out pitching prospect at this level in 2015.

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